Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to add further information to an answer I gave to Senator Whish-Wilson on 18 June and provide further information to the questions taken on notice on that day—and I have given Senator Whish-Wilson notice of this. The government advise that we do not accept the premise of Senator Whish-Wilson's question. There is no evidence that 'thousands of manufacturing workers' will lose their jobs as a result of the continuation of Australia's decades-long bipartisan commitment to freer trade. In fact, independent modelling commissioned by the government forecasts that jobs will be created as increased exports and cheaper imports allow Australian businesses to hire more workers. The annual net jobs increase is forecast to be almost 8,000 in 2016, peaking at almost 15,000 in 2020.

Regarding industry policy specifically, there is no change to the government's existing arrangements to support growth and innovation in Australian industry. The government supports growth, jobs and competitiveness of Australian industries through the Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda. This includes a range of initiatives and programs, including the Industry Growth Centres Initiative, the Cooperative Research Centres program, the Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Program, the R&D tax incentive and the Manufacturing Transition Program.